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How To Make Your Own Linen Napkins (Placemats)

Making your own linen napkins is easier than you think! These napkins are also the perfect size for placemats so they do double duty.

You don’t need to be a seamstress to make these. I can only sew straight lines so it’s a very easy sewing project. And the linen fabric I’ve used makes the napkins only better after several washes.


DIY Linen Napkins - So Much Better With Age

How To Make Your Own Linen Napkins (that double as placemats!)

Here are a few past examples where I’ve used my DIY linen napkins/placements. They are so useful and match any decor.

Christmas 2013 – French Christmas Tablescape

How to make your own linen napkins/ French linen - So Much Better With Age

Christmas 2016 – Snowy Centrepiece

How to make your own linen placemats/ snowy centrepiece - So Much Better With Age

Christmas 2017 – French Christmas Dining Room
How to make your own linen French napkins/ evergreen Christmas table setting - So Much Better With Age
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Supplies:

Directions:

  1. Wash and dry linen fabric at least once to prevent future shrinking.
  2. Cut fabric 17 x 22 inches with scissors or on a cutting mat with ruler and rotary cutter.

How to make your own linen napkins/cut fabric - So Much Better With Age3. Fold one edge over about 3/4 inch then iron down.

How to make your own linen napkins/iron over hem - So Much Better With Age4. Fold over that same side a good inch then iron down.

How to make your own linen napkins/sew hem - So Much Better With Age

How to make your own linen napkins/measure fabric - So Much Better With Age

5. Repeat the same for the opposite side.

6. Sew the fold down along the dotted line like in the image below. Repeat for the opposite ironed side.

How to make your own linen napkins/sew along dotted line - So Much Better With Age

7. Now repeat for the last two sides.

DIY napkins and placemats sewing graphic - So Much Better With Age

And that’s it! Super easy, right? I love the way they look when they’ve been washed a few times.

The corners turn out great when you sew them this way. I love the wrinkly look of linen.

How to make linen napkins that double as placemats - So Much Better With Age

How to make your own linen napkins/nubby linen fabric - So Much Better With Age

Linen fabric looks great with rustic decor as well as fine china.

How to make your own linen napkins/ French Vintage - So Much Better With Age

How to make your own linen napkins/ wooden crate - So Much Better With Age

How to make your own linen napkins/French linen napkins - So Much Better With Age

How to make your own linen napkins/beautiful beige linen fabric - So Much Better With Age

The best part about these napkins is that this size makes it perfect to double as a placemat!

I’ve made many of these so that I have enough for each person to have a placement and a napkin.

Napkins that double as placemats - So Much Better With Age

 What do you think? Will you try making your own linen napkins that double as placemats?


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34 Comments

  1. I have been wanting to make these for awhile but was worried they would be hard. Your tutorial took the fear out of the process! Cutting linen tonight so I can sew away tomorrow! Thank you!

  2. I am a mom but until now I still don’t know how to do Linen Napkins, thanks for this tutorials, I will try to follow this steps..

    1. Thanks Emily! I love that linen fabric but I had to wash it twice before it became soft. It doesn’t feel that soft when you first touch it but washing and drying it softens it right up.
      Hugs,
      Jamie

  3. I love them. I am about to start to learn to sew.
    Just to clarify you fold it 3/4 inch, then fold same side again an inch and then sew down?
    How much fabric did you buy to make then and what was the width of it?
    Sorry for these naive questions.
    Dilys

  4. Hello I would like to know more about the type of linen is it 100% linen what exact linen did you buy at fabric.com ?

  5. Hi Jamie. Are the measurements the same for the napkins as for the placemats or are the p’mats a little larger?
    thanks
    Rona

  6. Two questions.

    Did it matter if you started with width (17) vs. length to stitch down? No mitering?

    Did you use an darker thread on the reverse side? Or was that for the tutorial? I realize I can use different thread colors. Just curious.

    thanks.

    1. Hi Sharon,
      No it doesn’t matter what side you start from, just be sure to do the opposite same side (like the graphic above). By doing it that way, you don’t need to mitre the corners. And coloured thread would be so beautiful! I’ve recently made some tea towels with different coloured thread.
      Hugs, Jamie

  7. These are so beautiful! Thank you for the tutorial!
    How much fabric did you purchase and how many napkins did you make?

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